Phillip & Colleen // Chilly Fall Wedding Photography

Phillip & Colleen had been dating for about 10 months when they talked about moving their relationship from “dating” to “engaged-to-be-married”. Together they picked out an engagement ring, & even though it wasn’t officially in Phillip’s possession yet, it was as close as it could be. The big “asking” moment was clearly right around the corner.

So, one particular evening, last October, Phillip came to pick up Colleen to take her out to dinner. It was a warm evening, and Colleen thought it was really strange that Phillip still had his heavy work coat on. He is a traditionally very warm-blooded person (the complete opposite of Colleen: who is almost always cold), so she thought it was weird, but shrugged it off. Colleen suggested somewhere for dinner, but Phillip countered with: “Let’s go up to Olive Garden.”

Unknown to Colleen, Phillip had that special ring & was planning on proposing that night. He was super nervous: constantly tripping over his words & unable to string his thoughts together coherently. As they drove out to Olive Garden, Colleen began to get a little worried about him. He was still wearing his coat & so he was sweating, and he was just acting so strange. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew Phillip was going to propose at some point in the near future, but that thought never even crossed her mind that it could possibly be that night.

As they arrived at the restaurant and were seated, Phillip (shaking like a leaf) took off his coat & nervously slid a ring box across the table. Confused, Colleen asked, “What’s that?” (still completely oblivious as to what was actually happening). And that’s when Phillip officially got ahold of his tongue, for the first time that night, and asked Colleen if she would marry him.

Of course: she suddenly connected the dots as to why he was acting so strange & instantly said, “Yes.”

This past Saturday, they officially made things official. But their wedding day wasn’t without it’s own set of “problems”. Not only was the day downright chilly & rainy, squashing all of our beautiful fall photo location ideas, but poor Phillip had injured his back at work and was hardly able to walk. I had no idea how severely he was injured until I saw him before the ceremony & the usual happy-go-lucky, always-cracking-jokes Phillip was just sitting in the front row of the church, trying to smile through the pain. He was such a champ though! Even though he had to sit through the entire ceremony – he still worked up the energy to walk his beautiful wife back down the aisle & to walk into their reception, be officially introduced as Mr. & Mrs. and have their first dance together.

Colleen & Phillip – you guys are seriously so amazing. Something like Phillip’s injury would have gotten most “normal” couples so down, but you guys took it in stride, smiled & laughed through the whole day. It was absolutely incredible to witness how you both made the very best of the situation and continued to smile heart-eyes at each other throughout the entire evening. Not every couple could do that & it’s simply an incredible testimony to who you are as Colleen & Phillip and who you will continue to be as husband & wife!

Phillip officially gets a spot into my top 5 “groom-seeing-his-bride reactions”! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the entire church (including my own).

And they did it! I know it’s not the most artsy image, but the story it tells is simply incredible. It might have taken them a little while, but Phillip & Colleen officially walked back down the church’s (very long) aisle together as husband & wife and it was awe-inspiring to witness.

So, because of Phillip’s back, along with the chilly, rainy atmosphere outside, we choose to do most of their portraits inside the church – where it was warm & dry and Phillip could continue to sit.

But, I’m not going to lie, I had seen these red doors in front of the church on my way in & my heart was just dying to shoot in front of them! Once again, Phillip & Colleen were absolute champs and we took all of the following portraits in the space of about 5 minutes!

I’m typically not a huge cake person at weddings. I’d rather have a cookie or two! But here’s the deal with this cake: it was made by Colleen’s Mom. Having photographed Colleen’s sister, Miranda’s, wedding last summer & witnessing just how insanely fast her cake got scarfed up (again, made by their Mom), I made sure that everyone knew that I would not be making the same mistake this time around & you would find me in line for cake whenever it got cut! I’m so happy to report that it did not disappoint!

Speaking of Mike & Miranda! It was so much fun to catch up with them & their kiddos!

Huge shout-out and thank you to the amazing team of vendors, as well as friends & family, who helped make Phillip & Colleen’s wedding day absolutely perfect!

Ceremony Venue: Christ Church in Towanda, PA
Reception Venue: Wysox Fire Hall in Wysox, PA
Catering: Wysox Fire Hall in Wysox, PA
Cake: Made by the bride’s Mom
Invitations: Anne’s Bridal Bargains
Hair: Melissa Neuman
Makeup: Wendy Keeney (bridesmaid)
Bridal Gown Retailer: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaids Gowns Retailer: David’s Bridal
Groom Attire: Alexander Julian suit from Boscov’s
Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Zales
Florist: Bouquets put together by Wendy Keeney – flowers from Hobby Lobby
DJ: Ultimate Sound DJ – Erick Murtland in Sayre, PA
Officiant: Reverand Maureen Atlee-Hipple from Christ Church in Towanda, PA
Photographer: Kara Abbey Photography in Irwin, PA